Abandoned luggage temporarily closes Chicago River downtown

May 16, 2012|Staff report

Boats operated by the Chicago police and the U.S. Coast Guard monitor activity on the Chicago River near the Michigan Ave. Bridge due to a suspicious package being found in the area. (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Police temporarily closed the Chicago River while they investigated a suspicious package near Wabash Avenue and Wacker Drive just north of the Loop.

Authorities later determined the package to be abandoned luggage, officials said.

Police were called to the area about 6 p.m. and closed traffic on the river downtown while the police Bomb and Arson Unit investigated, according to Police News Affairs.

Investigators secured the scene and reopened river traffic after determining that the package was a "piece of luggage," said Officer Ron Gaines, a police spokesman.

Boats were moving on the River again by about 8:10 p.m. and Marine Unit boats headed back east along the river.